Looking for some Dungeons and Dragons advice!

[Chicago Typewriter]

Hello, fellow Escapists!

I've never played D&D before, and I'd love to start. Is there a certain edition that would be best for a beginner? (I'm a college student, if that makes any difference). Any other random helpfulness/advice would be appreciated as well =]

 

[SpaceMedarotterX]

4th edition is very easy to get into for non-players. It's a lot more balanced

 

[Kwaren]

I prefer 3.5 but unfortunately 4th is easier to get into.

 

[Ranorak]

Defiantly the 4th edition.
I started Dungeon Mastering for a group of DnD virgins, and within minutes they got the concept well enough to make choices during character creation. It's very accessible and the 3 player handbooks that are currently out gives you plenty of choice in race and class.

 

[migo]

D&D Essentials is what you're looking for. Also, D&D Encounters, it's on every Wednesday at 7pm at gaming stores, easiest way to have a pickup game.

 

[HellsingerAngel]

Hello, fellow Escapists!

I've never played D&D before, and I'd love to start. Is there a certain edition that would be best for a beginner? (I'm a college student, if that makes any difference). Any other random helpfulness/advice would be appreciated as well =]

Get friends, including one that's very imaginative or likes to tell stories for the Dungeon Master. Alternatively, join an existing group or get some veterans to help you out. Above all else, start with 4.0. Though some people see it only as the "noob edition", I prefer it much more over 3.0 and 3.5, and I've played the game for seventeen years! Simplicity is sometimes the best formula for fun.

 

[Trogdor1138]

The new Red Box starter set that came out (Essentials) is extremely good for a new player and terrific value. Definitely go this option.

 

[Daystar Clarion]

My best advice. If you play a fighter, try and avoid duel wielding bastard swords. Yes it sounds as awesome as it is, but if you actually want to hit anything, have a short sword in your off-hand. That way, you do some pretty sweet damage, without sacrificing too much accuracy.

 

[Amnestic]

I hear Essentials is good. 4th Edition is also fairly beginner friendly. I started off with AD&D 2nd before 'graduating' to 3.5th when I got a bit older, so I'm more used to what is now the 'older' stuff.

Don't start with AD&D 2nd. THAC0 makes my brain hurt ;p

 

[Virgil]

Hello, fellow Escapists!

I've never played D&D before, and I'd love to start. Is there a certain edition that would be best for a beginner? (I'm a college student, if that makes any difference). Any other random helpfulness/advice would be appreciated as well =]

May I suggest the new Red Box starter set, which you can take a look at here [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/103321-Unboxing-the-New-D-D-Red-Box]. It's a complete starter set in one package, with a minimal learning curve. It's probably the best way to try to get into D&D.

Alternately, if you're looking for a more D&D-ish experience, a "dipping the toe in the water" kind of thing, you might want to take the Castle Ravenloft board game [http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/59946/dungeons-dragons-castle-ravenloft-board-game] for a spin instead. It's based on D&D, but is set up in a way that doesn't require a DM, and can be played through in a few hours. I think we're going to have a review of it soon-ish, but I heard good things from the people that played.

 

[ReverendJ]

4th Ed is generally described as very beginner friendly, but (and here I'm risking firing the opening salvo in yet another Edition War) is isn't quite an RPG in the minds of many of us players. It is a very technical and strategic board game, more of a combat simulator. Great if you want to play with models and whatnot. It does, however, focus more on combat than anything else. If you're looking for something a little different from what is essentially a pen and paper FPS, I'd suggest Pathfinder from Paizo Publishing. It's an updated version of the old 3.5 rules, minus a lot of the bookkeeping. The Pathfinder rules are a little more comprehensive in that there's more of a focus on non-combat situations that 4th Ed lacks.

That said, the important thing is really just to relax and have fun. Encumbrance rules bogging you down? The hell with 'em, play without. It's your game, the rules are just there to help.

 

[Chicago Typewriter]

Wow, thank you everyone! I'm going to get the 4th edition and play with my fellow English Lit majors, and see how it goes.

Is it absolutely essential to get a veteran to DM for the group?

 

[Altorin]

pick up the red box.

 

[Amnestic]

Is it absolutely essential to get a veteran to DM for the group?

No, but you will want someone who is driven. A lazy DM will ruin the experience for everyone involved. Might I suggest your DM take a look at, if nothing else, some of the Check for Traps [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/columns/checkfortraps] column?

 

[Altorin]

Hello, fellow Escapists!

I've never played D&D before, and I'd love to start. Is there a certain edition that would be best for a beginner? (I'm a college student, if that makes any difference). Any other random helpfulness/advice would be appreciated as well =]

May I suggest the new Red Box starter set, which you can take a look at here [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/103321-Unboxing-the-New-D-D-Red-Box]. It's a complete starter set in one package, with a minimal learning curve. It's probably the best way to try to get into D&D.

Alternately, if you're looking for a more D&D-ish experience, a "dipping the toe in the water" kind of thing, you might want to take the Castle Ravenloft board game [http://boardgamegeek.com/boardgame/59946/dungeons-dragons-castle-ravenloft-board-game] for a spin instead. It's based on D&D, but is set up in a way that doesn't require a DM, and can be played through in a few hours. I think we're going to have a review of it soon-ish, but I heard good things from the people that played.

I would suggest the board game as well. I've read the manual (it's available online) through and through, and it seems really similar to D&D. It also has actual models and a terrific set of tiles that are good quality and interlocking.

It seems a lot better then most RPG board games, because it takes almost no time to actually setup. The World of Warcraft boardgame is interesting, but it literally takes almost 2 hours to set up. So by the time it's set up (and it takes a HUGE amount of space as well - my kitchen table can BARELY contain it), noone wants to play it anymore.

 

[Necromancer1991]

The 4th was streamlined for your convenience

 

[Ranorak]

Wow, thank you everyone! I'm going to get the 4th edition and play with my fellow English Lit majors, and see how it goes.

Is it absolutely essential to get a veteran to DM for the group?

No, a new DM can grow with the group, just as well.
Just make sure you get someone who is a great story teller and who's words you can imagine. So to speak

 

[migo]

The new Red Box starter set that came out (Essentials) is extremely good for a new player and terrific value. Definitely go this option.

I'd say the red box is a terrible value, it's good for about 2 sessions of play.

Wow, thank you everyone! I'm going to get the 4th edition and play with my fellow English Lit majors, and see how it goes.

Is it absolutely essential to get a veteran to DM for the group?

Completely unessential, in fact it may be more fun without one.

 

[Trogdor1138]

The new Red Box starter set that came out (Essentials) is extremely good for a new player and terrific value. Definitely go this option.

I'd say the red box is a terrible value, it's good for about 2 sessions of play.

Wow, thank you everyone! I'm going to get the 4th edition and play with my fellow English Lit majors, and see how it goes.

Is it absolutely essential to get a veteran to DM for the group?

Completely unessential, in fact it may be more fun without one.

It's a starter set meant to introduce new players, what is it supposed to be then? I mean, it's got the fold out terrains, tokens, dice and everything else that does a good job at being an introduction, it's cheap as hell. So it might only have 2 sessions of play, but those 2 sessions are designed to set you up, so I don't really see the problem with this.